Welcome to Tygart's D/HH Program Website

D/HH Program Overview

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) students have a variety of educational options available to them at Mt. Tahoma including direct instruction in DHH class, general education classes supported by interpreters, and support classes to maximize student success in the general education setting.

Most academic classes can be taken in a deaf classroom environment using American Sign Language, and spoken English where appropriate. These classes feature direct instruction provided by a teacher of the D/HH. Instructional methods are made purposefully visual, and whenever possible, ASL and written English are made simultaneously visible to assist students in making connections between these two primary languages. Typical offerings include Math, Social Studies, English, and Study Skills. Additional classes can be offered based on student need. Alternatively, all regular education classes are available with an interpreter provided for communication access. Students also have access to FM systems to enhance their ability to use their residual hearing. These classes can be further supported by the deaf program when necessary by a teacher of the Deaf both within the class itself in a team teaching situation, and in the Deaf classroom as a resource room.

Students have primary input into the type of classes they take - whether direct instruction in a DHH classroom, or interpreted instruction in a general education setting - based on what best meets their individual educational needs and preferences. These choices are made through the IEP team discussion. A typical D/HH student schedule includes both D/HH and regular interpreted classes. Student scheduling is based on input from the student, his or her family, the Teachers of the D/HH, and the educational team involved in that student's program.

Junior National Association of the Deaf (Jr. NAD) - a.k.a. Deaf T-Bird Club

The Jr. NAD is a DHH student leadership organization that students have recently chosen to rename: The Deaf T-Bird Club. The National Association of the Deaf is an adult advocacy group for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Jr. NAD is the youth section of that association. At Mt. Tahoma, the Jr. NAD is open to both Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and students who hear and have an interest in American Sign Language (ASL) or Deaf culture. The offices of President and Vice-President are open only to D/HH students wherever possible to maintain the club's focus on Deaf Culture and ASL, but the other two offices of Secretary and Treasurer are open to any member regardless of their hearing status. Membership requires the purchase of an ASB card.

Historically, the Jr. NAD has sponsored trips for both hearing and deaf members to places such as San Francisco, Colorado, Washington D.C. and New Mexico to participate and attend the Deaf Academic Bowl (explained below).

Deaf Academic Bowl (DAB)

The DAB is a knowledge bowl competition sponsored by Gallaudet University and its Regional Centers. Gallaudet is the only university in the world dedicated to the post high school education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals and it is located in Washington, D.C.. The United States is split into 5 geographic regions. Our region is the Western region sponsored by the Gallaudet Regional Center at Ohlone College in Fremont, California. Our region includes Deaf Schools and Deaf Programs from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The DAB is a knowledge bowl competition between Deaf Schools and Deaf Progams within our region. Teams consist of 5 players with 4 main players and an "alternate" who is rotated in during breaks in the rounds. All players must be deaf or hard of hearing to be eligible to play. Questions are presented visually in English, and students write their answers which are then displayed for all to see. To be deemed correct, the written answer must not only be accurate, but also spelled correctly, using correct English grammar, conventions, and punctuation. A competition consists of three rounds with different formats of play. In round 1, whoever buzzes in first gets to answer. In round 2, players go head to head with each other. In round 3, each team collaborates and answers a series of questions about a particular theme. The top two teams from each region get a free trip to Washington, D.C. to compete against the top teams from each region at the national level. Nationals are held at Gallaudet University. Questions cover a wide variety of topics including U.S. and World History, Language and Literature, Science, Nature, Technology, U.S. and World Geography, the Arts, Mathematics, Current Events, Deaf Studies, Popular Culture, Leisure, and Sports.

Each year we endeavor to field a team. If we are unable to field a team this year, we will focus our energies on a trip to New York to visit the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, or perhaps Washington D.C. to visit Gallaudet University and to see the National DAB Championship competitions.